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I disagree!

August 15 2002 at 2:22 AM
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Cambeez Mulla  (Login cambeezm)


Response to Canada doesn't care for youth cricket

 
I think you lack insight into what you are talking about. I believe that their are quite a few coaches out there and who are interested in coaching these youth. In your criticisms you failed to recognize the vast and intricate highschool cricket scene. Many schools (at least 50)in the GTA have cricket teams and are playing organized cricket. All of them have coaches.

The one criticism that you mentioned that I do agree with is the length of the game that they play. Too many are growing up playing 20-25 over matches and learning to play in that short hit-and-run fashion which spoils their batting and inculcates bad habits.
The batting becomes exciting, but short-lived. The bowling and fielding do not get the level of stamina required to play the longer version of the game once their junior days are over.

I would like to see more youth teams entering the leagues and playing 45-50 over matches at the lower divisions of the T&D,Etobicoke,Scarborough or Labatt's leagues.

The problem is commitment and time for these students. Many of them get summer jobs that require them to work on the weekends. Most of their summer holidays don't start until the end of June, while our cricket season starts at the end of May. Therefore, our leagues are starting just as most them are about to go through exams. They are not bothered about cricket at these times. When they want to play, it is too late to join the league with a new youth club. So they separate and join individual teams. The only problem is that they are relegated to lower order batsmen there or don't get the chance to play at all. So experience is never gained. If you want to help a youngster to play the longer version of the game you have to coach him on those teams and make him play at a reasonably high batting and/or bowling order. That is the only way to get them to grow as cricketers. Or the other choice is get a group of 20 or so committed youth and start a team in one of the leagues. If one player drops out because of work difficulties then another can take his place immediately. The Under 23 team in premiere is a good example of this. However, I am talking about younger players (14-18 years old).

 
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